portraitist

noun

por·​trait·​ist ˈpȯr-trə-tist How to pronounce portraitist (audio)
-ˌtrā-
: a maker of portraits

Examples of portraitist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The show features work from 12 artists that participated in the Black Rock Senegal residency founded by artist (and Obama portraitist) Kehinde Wiley in its first two years. Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025 Beth Ditto and Olly Alexander performed before the live auction on 3rd July, which raised £20,000 with top lots including Alison Jackson’s PRIDE Playboy, Tongue in Cheek by Hayden Kays and a portrait of Daniel Lismore by Chris Levine, portraitist of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 Ellmann the portraitist has now come in for a portrait of his own. Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025 Portraits are about style and sparkle, so no portraitist could be a great artist, or so was the assumption during my days as a student. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for portraitist

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French portraitiste, from portrait portrait entry 1 + -iste -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of portraitist was in 1857

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Cite this Entry

“Portraitist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portraitist. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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